Hoboken, NJ – Stevens Institute of Technology and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) have recently conducted joint experiments in the Dutch Navy Harbor of Den Helder, where passive acoustic systems from both parties were combined. Initial experimental results were presented at the Waterside Security (WSS) 2010 conference, held earlier this month. This important experimental campaign was financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

The collaboration between Stevens and TNO was initiated in early 2010 after recognizing a strategic opportunity to form a long-term research relationship and become recognized research leaders in the underwater sciences and engineering and port and maritime security. Among other goals, Stevens and TNO hope to increase the level of readiness against underwater threats in harbors by developing an integrated system that can be used to protect harbors from both surface and underwater intruders.

Michael Bruno, Dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science at Stevens said of the partnership: "Stevens Institute of Technology and TNO each have extraordinary technical expertise and experience in dealing with the numerous challenges facing our maritime community. The partnership also brings together organizations that work closely with two of the most important ports in the world - Stevens with the Port of New York and New Jersey, and TNO with the Port of Rotterdam. My colleagues and I look forward to the challenging work that lies ahead."

“We are excited about the unique collaboration between a US and Dutch institute. With these experiments the potential of passive acoustic detection of underwater intruders has been established. The next step will be testing of the technology in the Rotterdam Harbor,” added Koos Verolme, manager of the Sonar Department at TNO.

The WSS 2010 conference brought together professionals from a variety of disciplines all with a common interest in waterside security. Protecting ports, harbors, coastal waters, and inland waters from the threats of terrorism and criminal activity requires innovative thinking in areas as diverse as technology, operations, policy, human factors, risk analysis, international law, and economics.

The paper detailing the initial experimental results was authored by both Stevens and TNO. From Stevens the contributors were Alexander Sutin, Hady Salloum, Nikolay Sedunov and Alexander Sedunov. Laurent Fillinger, Pascal de Theije and Mario Zampolli contributed from TNO.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870 and celebrating 140 Years of Innovation, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University™, lives at the intersection of industry, academics and research. The University's students, faculty and partners leverage their collective real-world experience and culture of innovation, research and entrepreneurship to confront global challenges in engineering, science, systems and technology management.

Based in Hoboken, N.J. and with a location in Washington, D.C., Stevens offers baccalaureate, master’s, certificates and doctoral degrees in engineering, the sciences and management, in addition to baccalaureate degrees in business and liberal arts. Stevens has been recognized by both the US Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Excellence in the areas of systems engineering and port security research. The University has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students with almost 450 faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America as well as strategic partnerships with industry leaders, governments and other universities around the world. Additional information may be obtained at www.stevens.edu and www.stevens.edu/news.

TNO Defence, Security and Safety

TNO Defence, Security and Safety provide innovative contributions to the advance of comprehensive security and is a strategic partner of the Dutch Ministry of Defence to build up the defence knowledge-base.

We employ our acquired knowledge for and together with contractors.
We focus on Defence in the broadest sense of the word and our involvement covers a range of activities: military operations, military equipment, command & control and operational decision making, threat and protection, instruction and training. In the area of Security and Safety, the emphasis lies on combating crime, calamity and terrorism. TNO also works for the aviation and maritime sectors, markets in which our knowledge can be of good use. In terms of aviation, we concentrate largely on improving safety while for the maritime sector we focus on naval architecture. We collaborate with the defence industry and with small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative solutions.

For more information, please visit TNO.nl.

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